Bourbon Balls, Authentic Bourbon District Style image

Bourbon Balls, Authentic Bourbon District Style

Kentucky loves adding Bourbon Ball flavor to everything, but what are bourbon balls? They are a no-bake candy that contains a smooth bourbon truffle-like filing and occasionally pecan decorations.  They come in every flavor and type of chocolate, from dark to white, and it’s not unusual to see them combined with every other flavor type. Every shop and every home seems to have a unique recipe or twist on this local Bourbon favorite. Here is a very basic recipe to get you started, but the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity. See below to peruse some of our favorites photographed right here at restaurants, candy shops, and retailers here in the Bourbon District.

Bourbon Ball Recipe

1 cup chopped nuts (Soak your nuts in Bourbon for a few days for extra Bourbon flavor! )
5 tablespoons Kentucky bourbon
½ cup butter, coconut oil, or semi-soft spread/fat (softened)
16 ounces, about 1 standard package of confectioners’ sugar (set aside extra for dusting)
18 ounces semisweet chocolate

Soften chocolate in the microwave or a double boiler.

Fold in butter and sugar and allow to cool.

When the mixture is cool enough to roll, form into 1″ balls, dust with confectioners sugar, and refrigerate or enjoy right away.

Photos were taken at:

Muth’s Candies, 630 E Market St – Art Eatables, 631 S 4th St and 819 W Main St – Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, 528 West Main St – Ah, Whatta ‘Bout Mimi!, 701 West Market St